Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• World book day events 2020

  Wed 12 Feb 2020 Mr Youngman

  This year, World Book Day is on Thursday 5^th March 2020 and to celebrate we will be running events throughout “World Book Day Month”. These include participating in the “reading revolution” and nationwide event that is

  “Share a million Stories”.

   

  Reading for pleasure is in decline, so we want to boost it back up, raise awareness and spark millions of imaginations.

  Schools, bookshops, libraries, businesses and homes nationwide are invited to join in with the fun nationwide social event to enjoy the pleasures of reading and SHARE A STORY on World Book Day… and every day. Spending just 10 minutes a day reading and sharing stories with children can make a crucial difference to their outcome and it’s fun for all involved. You can read together anywhere and everywhere, from breakfast to bedtime! In the park, on the train, on the sofa, on a plane – reading and sharing stories can happen anywhere at any time.

   

  This year we need YOUR help to SHARE A MILLION STORIES during World Book Day month.

   

  Activity 1: Reading Bingo Challenge (in partnership with EFC)

  There are 14 different coloured football shirts on the bingo challenge sheet. Every time a child completes a challenge on a shirt, they are working their way towards being entered for both individual and school prizes by scoring a goal. For every 5 goals (5 books) a child scores, our school will be entered to win an activity day from Everton in the Community such as glow in the dark dodgeball or day of football coaching for the school. We will also be looking for pupils that have made progression with their reading, read in adventurous locations and those who have tried to complete the most challenges.

   

  Children need to record the books they have read in the table on the back of their bingo card so we can gather information on the selection of books read. You can also tweet us photos of your child reading using @eastcroftpark and tag EFC in using @eitc or use the hashtag #efcreaders.

   

  Your child’s bingo card, and photos of adventurous reading, must be returned to their teacher on 5^th March where it will be entered into the competition. Winners will be announced week commencing 25^th March 2020.

   

  Also attached to this post is a list of the top 25 books for your child’s age range, as voted for by the nation, to start you off in your challenge.

   

  Activity 2: Dress up!

  On World Book Day, we invite children to dress up as a character from a book they’ve shared as part of the Reading Bingo challenge. Please don’t go to any great expense: home-made costumes are always that bit more fun!

   

  Look out for more events to be confirmed during World Book Week. We look forward to seeing the children participate in this annual event with their usual sense of fun and enthusiasm!

   

  As always, thanks for your continued support.

   

   

  Mrs G Hudson

  Deputy Head teacher/English Leader

   

  "NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS THAN YOUR BEST"

  

• World book day lunch 5th March 2020

  Tue 11 Feb 2020 Mr Youngman
  There will be a special £1 lunch to celebrate World Book Day 2020, details can be seen on the attached flyer!

  

• Save the children 'Christmas jumper day' fundraising total

  Thu 06 Feb 2020 Mr Youngman
  A big well done to everyone for ourfantastic fundraising total of £285.00 for Savethge children's 'Christmas jumper day'.

  

• Free creative courses in Knowsley

  Sun 02 Feb 2020 Mr Youngman

  Make Time for yourself this New Year with FREE creative courses

   

  If your 2020 resolution is to make time for yourself then you won’t want to miss Knowsley Council’s ’10 Ways to Wellbeing’ FREE creative courses.

   

  The free sessions with professional artists are open to all adults and will give you the chance to explore a range of creative arts including creative writing/ storytelling, photography, drama, drawing or visual arts.

   

  Part of Knowsley’s ‘10 Ways to Wellbeing’ the courses, which will run over 4 weeks, will provide the opportunity to learn a new skill and make new friends while making time for yourself.

   

  The ’10 Ways’ are simple actions and activities which if done regularly can make a real difference to how you feel and cope with life’s ups and downs.

   

  Storytelling/Creative Writing

   

  Join our creative writing course and let your imagination flow. Learn how to write a compelling piece, be it a poem, short story or lyrics to a song!

   

  Wednesdays at 6pm to 8pm

  Stockbridge Leisure Centre, The Withens, Stockbridge Village, L28 1AB

  29^th January

  5^th February

  12^th February

  19^th February

   

  Thursdays 6pm to 8pm

  New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre, Lichfield Road, Halewood, L26 1TT

  30^th January

  6^th February

  13^th February

  20^th February  

   

  Drawing for Health: Four Pictures Make Your Story

  Using different styles of drawing, you will work on four related pictures, which will build over the four sessions, to tell a story of your life experiences. These sessions are all about understanding and telling your own stories through pictures.  

   

  You don’t have to have drawing skills already, we will show you the way!

   

  Saturday mornings 10.30am-12.30pm

  Kirkby Resource Centre, James Holt Avenue, Kirkby, L32 5TD

   

  1^st February

  8^th February

  15^th February

  22^nd February

   

  Visual Arts

   

  Experience how visual arts can make a positive difference to your mood while learning to express yourself creatively.  Learn the power of abstract painting and how to mix basic colours and complementary colours to create your own colourful masterpiece.

   

   

  Friday mornings 11am to 1pm

  St George’s Church, Primrose Drive, Huyton L36 8DW 

  7^th February

  14^th February

  21^st February

  28^th February

   

  Photography taster course

   

  Learn how the power of photography can improve your mental wellbeing whilst connecting with the world around you.

   

  All sessions start and finish in the libraries but will involve visits to local parks to explore the natural environment.

   

  Saturday mornings 10.30am to 12.30pm

   

  Huyton Library Culture Hub, Civic Way, Huyton L36 9GD

  7^th March

  14^th March

  21^st March

  28^th March

   

  Prescot Library, Prescot Shopping Centre, Aspinall Street, L34 5GA

  4^th April

  11^th April

  18^th April

  25^th April

   

  Drama techniques

   

  Join a practitioner from Imaginarium Theatre as they introduce simple drama techniques to improve health and wellbeing. Learn how physical movement and expression can help you feel better, increase confidence and improve your mood. No previous drama experience is necessary.

   

  Fridays 6.30pm to 8.30pm

  Bryer Road Community Centre, Bryer Road, Prescot L35 5DW

  6^th, March

  13^th, March

  20^th March

  27^th March 2020

   

  No previous experience is necessary, you just need to bring a lot of enthusiasm!

   

  Register your interest for any of these courses by contacting Knowsley Culture Development and Events Service on 0151 443 5353 or emailing katy.mcloughlin@knowsley.gov.uk  

  

• NSPCC's 'Speak out stay safe'

  Sun 26 Jan 2020 Mr Youngman

  The NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe programme is visiting our school to help us make sure our pupils have the knowledge and understanding they need to stay safe from abuse.

   

  I’m pleased to tell you that we will be working with the NSPCC, the UK’s leading children’s charity, who’ll be delivering their Speak Out Stay Safe programme this term. This is a nationwide programme for every primary school aged child in the UK and Channel Islands. With the help of their friendly mascot Buddy, they’ll be presenting an assembly to the children in our school as well as a workshop for Years 5 and 6.

   

  "NSPCC has helped me to build the confidence to tell people about my worries and problems." Child’s feedback

   

  What is the Speak Out Stay Safe programme?

  Through child-friendly, interactive assemblies and workshops, specially trained staff and volunteers will give our children information about how to keep themselves safe from harm and how to get help if they have any worries, sensitively discussing issues like bullying and abuse, without using scary words or adult language.

   

  We have studied the content of the materials and are confident that they are appropriate for primary school aged children. By the end of their visit, we’re confident children will feel empowered – knowing how they can speak out and stay safe.

   

  "This service provides important information in a child-friendly way – it should be made mandatory in all schools. A brilliant service!" Teacher, Wistaston Primary, Crewe

   

  If you would like any more information about the NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe programme, including frequently asked questions, you can find it on the NSPCC website nspcc.org.uk/schools or please come into speak to me and I can provide more information.

   

  Talking about the Underwear Rule with your children

  The NSPCC’s work in schools will help encourage conversations about staying safe – and they have a number of child-friendly materials to help you carry on the conversation afterwards. That includes ‘The Underwear Rule’, a simple way for parents to help keep children safe from sexual abuse – without using scary words or even mentioning sex. The guide uses the rules of PANTS to teach children that their body belongs to them and them alone. You can find out more and download the free resources at www.nspcc.org.uk/pants

   

  If you’d like to know more about the NSPCC’s work, or take a look at the wide range of information and advice which is available for parents and carers, please visit their website nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/

• Family groups in Knowsley

  Wed 22 Jan 2020 Mr Youngman
  Details of upcoming family groups in Knowsley are on the attached flyer.

  

• Introducing 'The Kirkby child'.

  Thu 16 Jan 2020 Mr Youngman

  Dear Parents and Carers

  The Kirkby Child

  This week will see  the launch of the Kirkby Child across our family of schools. The Kirkby Child started life at Kirkby High School. The school wanted to develop a set of core values and skills with the school community that were  important for students to work towards both in and out  of school.

  Following the success of the concept with the school community at Kirkby High School the Headteachers of all the schools in Kirkby agreed this would be something to be adopted across the family of schools.

  The Kirkby Schools Council has met on numerous occasions  to discuss and debate the concept and potential values and skills for all children in Kirkby, including pictorial representations of the Kirkby Child. Over fifty different values were identified. Those values were then shared with the wider school community and local businesses to invite thoughts on the most important of the concepts. From those responses, final decisions were made about an agreed set of values for all schools in Kirkby.

  • Respectful
  • Honest and truthful
  • Positive attitude
  • Resilient
  • Good communicator
  • Confident
  • Committed and hardworking
  • Aspirational and ambitious
  • Polite

  Your child will come home today with a bookmark outlining the nine values.

  In school this week we have introduced The Kirkby Child to the children during assembly and there have been lots of opportunities to discuss the values during class activities. The Kirkby Child has visited all classes and we have displayed posters around the school.

  We would like every child in Kirkby to reflect the set of values in the way they conduct themselves both within and outside of the school.

  Thank you for your support.

   

  Miss J. Withey

  Headteacher Eastcroft Park Primary School

  

• TikTok & Minecraft e-safety guides for parents

  Wed 15 Jan 2020 Mr Youngman
  There are new e-safety guides for TikTok & Minecraft available on our e-safety for parents page.

  

• Fundraising totals

  Sun 12 Jan 2020 Mr Youngman
  A huge well done to everyone in the autumn term for our fundraising totals of £358.70 for children in need, £30 for cancer research & £225.40 for the poppy appeal. 

  

• Local authority advice in response to outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting

  Mon 16 Dec 2019 Mr Youngman

  As I am sure you are aware, we are experiencing increasing reports of diarrhoea and vomiting in schools in Knowsley and across the North West. Combined with this we now have increasing numbers of schools reporting flu-like illness in staff and pupils. There has been an increase in confirmed flu cases in the community in the North West.

   

  I am writing to ask that you remain vigilant and follow these few important steps:

  ·         Those reporting diarrhoea and vomiting should exclude themselves from school until 48 hours after the diarrhoea and/or vomiting have stopped

  ·         Those who are affected by flu like illnesses should stay off school until they have recovered and have not had a fever for at least 24 hours

  ·         Promote good hand hygiene as hand washing with soap is an effective way to stop infections from spreading.